Chhattisgarh Officials Arrested in Bharatmara Project Corruption Case
In a significant development, the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offences Wing of Chhattisgarh have arrested a deputy collector and a tehsildar for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds allocated for the critical Bharatmala road project. The arrests occurred on Wednesday after the Supreme Court of India rejected their bail applications, highlighting the seriousness of the charges.
Details of the Arrested Officials and Project Scope
The individuals apprehended have been identified as Deputy Collector Shashikant Kurre, who previously served as the Tehsildar of Abhanpur, and Tehsildar Lakheshwar Prasad Kiran, formerly the Naib Tehsildar of Gobra Nawapara in Raipur District. This case specifically concerns the construction of two vital road segments: the Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor and the Durg-Bypass road, both integral components of the national Bharatmala infrastructure initiative.
Political Background and Allegations
The issue first gained prominence in March of last year when the opposition Congress party raised serious concerns in the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha. During the legislative session, Congress leaders, including then Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant, demanded a comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Mahant alleged in the assembly, "If you calculate all the roads of the Bharatmala project, then over Rs 350 crore more has been paid as compensation for land acquisition. It is a big issue involving many senior officials, and possibly two-three party leaders. My request is for a CBI probe." Following these allegations, the case was transferred to the state's ACB/EOW for detailed investigation.
Investigation Findings and Modus Operandi
According to police officials, the accused allegedly conspired with subordinate patwaris, revenue inspectors, and members of the land mafia to execute a sophisticated fraud scheme. The group is accused of preparing and facilitating forged revenue records and documents to manipulate land acquisition compensation amounts.
An investigating officer stated, "By awarding affected landowners compensation amounts many times higher than the actual market value, they caused a financial loss of crores of rupees to the government exchequer." The fraudulent activities have resulted in substantial monetary damages to public funds intended for infrastructure development.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The arrested officials face multiple serious charges under the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Corruption and cheating
- Forgery of official documents
- Criminal breach of trust
- Criminal conspiracy
A Special Court in Raipur had previously issued permanent arrest warrants and proclamations against these individuals and other absconding public servants connected to the case. Currently, proceedings for the attachment of their properties are pending before the same Special Court.
Recent Developments and Broader Context
After reportedly evading authorities for a considerable period, both accused were formally arrested and remanded to police custody for ten days. This arrest follows the agency's first chargesheet filed in October last year against ten individuals for allegedly embezzling approximately Rs 32 crore in compensation meant for land acquisition in the Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor between 2020 and 2024.
The Bharatmala Pariyojana is a flagship highway development program of the Government of India aimed at improving road connectivity across the country. This case underscores the challenges of ensuring transparency and accountability in large-scale infrastructure projects involving substantial public expenditure.
